Copyright GIVEMESPORT
FIFA President Gianni Infantino could be investigated by the governing body's ethics committee for comments he made in support of President of the United States, Donald Trump. Infantino has publicly leaned on his relationship with the president throughout the buildup to the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the US, Canada and Mexico next summer. But according to Miguel Maduro, a former chairman of FIFA's governance committee, the Swiss' latest remarks could violate the organisation's ethics statutes. Speaking at the American Business Forum in Miami on Wednesday 5th November, Infantino insisted to attendees: "we should all support what he’s doing because I think it’s looking good”. The aforementioned line was a concluding one in a glowing endorsement of the White House incumbent, who has threatened to change World Cup host cities. Infantino's full remarks were as follows: "I’m really lucky. I have a great relationship with President Trump, where I consider him a really close friend. Of course he’s being very helpful in everything we are doing for the World Cup. He does things. He does what he says. He says what he thinks. He actually says what many people think as well, but maybe don’t dare to say and that’s why he’s so successful. I have to say it and I’m a bit surprised sometimes when we read some negative comments. "I am not American, but as far as I understand, President Trump was elected in the United States of America and was quite clearly elected. When you are in such a great democracy as the United States of America, you should first of all respect the results of the election, right? In the end he was elected based on the programme, based on what he said. He is just implementing what he said he would do. So I think we should all support what he’s doing because I think it’s looking pretty good.” FIFA President could be Investigated Maduro explained to The Athletic that Infantino's comments could violate a FIFA statute. He said: "FIFA remains neutral in matters of politics and religion. Exceptions may be made with regard to matters affected by FIFA’s statutory objectives. A debate could take place on the extent to which such obligation should extend to political positions taken when FIFA officials act in a private capacity. However, that is clearly not the case of the statement in question. It was made in his capacity as president of FIFA in an event he clearly participated in as FIFA president. I think a president of FIFA can state that electoral results should be respected. But Infantino went beyond that. "The final part of his statement does more than recognising the legitimacy of President Trump, it endorses his political programme and actions and argues others should support them too. He is taking a position in what is an internal political debate in the U.S. While he can recognise the legitimacy of President Trump, he should also recognise that in a democracy, others can oppose his policies. To remain politically neutral requires not to take a position on that political debate, much less to argue that all should support President Trump’s policies. To do so appears a clear violation of the duty of political neutrality imposed on any FIFA official by Article 15 of its Code of Ethics." FIFA are yet to comment on the accusation, while The Athletic have claimed that Infantino could be investigated by his own organisation's ethics committee - although there is no indication yet that such an investigation will take place. Potential ramifications for breaching Article 15 of the Code of Ethics range from a warning to a ban from all football-related activity.
